For the second time in 10 days, the Florida Panthers will welcome back a former defenseman who grew up in the organization when Buffalo Sabres' blue-liner Dmitry Kulikov makes his first trip to the BB&T Center since an offseason draft-day trade.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson was touched by a video tribute and warm ovation from the fans when he came to visit on Dec. 10, a 4-2 victory for the Panthers. Kulikov, who was dealt to the Sabres for fellow defenseman Mark Pysyk in a surprising trade in June, was looking forward to his scheduled video tribute Tuesday night.

"The rink is the same, but the entrance was a bit different," Kulikov said after morning skate from the visitors' dressing room. "Right now it doesn't feel weird, but I'm sure when I step out for the warmups, it'll be a little emotional seeing the fans that I played for so long in front of.

"We played them earlier in the season and half the team is different now."

Kulikov, 26, a first-round draft pick by the Panthers in 2009, played his first seven seasons with Florida. He played for four head coaches, and helped the Panthers reach two playoff berths, including last year's franchise-record 103-point season.

However, Kulikov began his Sabres' stint by getting checked into an open door by the bench during his first preseason game and sustained a tailbone injury, forcing him to miss training camp and the season opener.

Kulikov was hampered by the slow-healing injury that caused pain running down his legs. He played 12 games and then missed the next 13 to sufficiently heal, before returning four games ago.

"It started out rough, getting hurt in my first preseason game, and I've battling the injury all season," said Kulikov, who had zero points and a team-worst minus-7 ice rating heading into Tuesday night's game. "It takes awhile to get to know the systems and your new teammates. I feel like it's just gotten to the point where I feel comfortable now playing with the way I want to play, and not limited by the injury."

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Florida Panthers coach Bob Boughner talks about Wednesday's road victory over the Vancouver Canucks, and says the players took the ice with heavy hearts after the Parkland shooting earlier in the day.

Florida Panthers coach Bob Boughner talks about Wednesday's road victory over the Vancouver Canucks, and says the players took the ice with heavy hearts after the Parkland shooting earlier in the day.

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Florida Panthers coach Bob Boughner talks about Wednesday's road victory over the Vancouver Canucks, and says the players took the ice with heavy hearts after the Parkland shooting earlier in the day.

Florida Panthers coach Bob Boughner talks about Wednesday's road victory over the Vancouver Canucks, and says the players took the ice with heavy hearts after the Parkland shooting earlier in the day.

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Florida’s Vincent Trocheck talks about his first career hat trick, and Monday night's win over the Oilers.

Florida’s Vincent Trocheck talks about his first career hat trick, and Monday night's win over the Oilers.

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Coach Bob Boughner said the Panthers attacked well and every player had a pretty good game in Florida’s road win Tuesday over the New York Islanders.

Coach Bob Boughner said the Panthers attacked well and every player had a pretty good game in Florida’s road win Tuesday over the New York Islanders.

Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad discusses his team's play after Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.

Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad discusses his team's play after Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.

Coincidentally, while Gudbranson has provided leadership for the Canucks, he's sporting an ugly minus-14 rating, and is now out indefinitely with a wrist injury.

Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said Kulikov is progressing since his return.

"Unfortunately, for Kuli, coming back from the World Cup he had the injury with getting checked into the boards, the door coming open and derailed the first part of his season for him," Bylsma said. "He's gotten back into the games for us now and I really think since his first game he's playing a number of strong games for us. He's really made a difference with his skating and his ability to defend on the back end."

Panthers interim coach and general manager Tom Rowe said the Panthers didn't want to trade Kulikov or Gudbranson, but did so because of salary-cap issues, as Kulikov is slated to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

"We didn't want to give up Kuli, but we knew it was more of a salary-cap move at the time," Rowe said Tuesday. "We had targeted Pysyk in a trade for quite a while and we liked him a lot. What he's done for us coming in here being able to move the puck, shut teams down in our end of the ice, play a real heady game. It has been great for us.

"We definitely miss Kuli. He's a big, strong guy who can skate. But we had to make some tough decisions in the summertime and Pysyk has come in and done a great job."

Pysyk, 24, has a goal and seven points with a zero ice rating in 32 games. He's been a stalwart on the Panthers' much-improved fifth-ranked penalty kill in which he leads the team in ice time.

"I saw something coming but didn't know it was me, but it's turned out pretty good so far and I'm enjoying it here," said Pysyk, 24, a first-round pick by the Sabers in 2010, who has played 157 NHL games compared to Kulikov's 476. "It was good to get the first one out of the way there so I can focus on the game tonight."

The Panthers lost 3-0 to the Sabres on Oct. 29.

Panthers blossoming star center Aleksander Barkov, 21, who's got a Finnish and Russian background, was grateful for Kulikov's help to assimilate into America and South Florida.

"My first few years he helped me a lot, and made life easier for me here," Barkov said. "He brought me to practices. … When I didn't speak English he was my translator. Now I have to speak English so it's getting better, so that's his fault."

Marchessault expected to return

Panthers forward Jon Marchessault, still the team's leading goal scorer with 10 despite missing six of the past seven games with a groin injury, is expected to play Tuesday on a new line with Denis Malgin and Jussi Jokinen.

"The schedule was hard for us at the beginning of the year, but now we have the chance to show the league what kind of team we are," Marchessault said after morning skate. "Obviously, I think I'm ready to go. I just want to be back with my teammates and be able to get some wins here.

"We've never played together. … Malgin is a great player and great skater, and Jokinen has so much experience."

The second line is expected to again be Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith andColton Sceviour as Nick Bjugstad will shift from center to forward again. For the first time in his four-year career he'll play on the fourth line with Derek MacKenzie and Shawn Thornton. Bjugstad has struggled since coming back from a broken wrist, and has just one assist in 13 games.

Thornton and Jujitsu

Following the recent road trip the Panthers used Sunday as an off-ice day to watch video and work out, but Thornton changed it up by bringing in his local Jujitsu instructor.

"On off-ice days we usually do some stretching, yoga or pilates, so I though it'd be something different by bringing him in and show the guys a couple of moves on how to kill people," Thornton joked. "He showed the move on me and the guys would pair up and practice it.

"It was quick, simple and fun for the guys to see me get owned by a black belt."